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CONTOU - create contours from a block model

 

Process Name

Menu Path

Link to Command Table

CONTOU

Command line only

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Introduction

Generates a contour plot file from an orebody model.

How to use

Four different types of contours are possible:-

  1. Conventional contour from a numeric field.

  2. Top of seam structure.

  3. Bottom of seam structure.

  4. Seam isopach (top minus bottom of seam).

The required contour is chosen by specifying the appropriate parameter(s) from the set @PLANE (defining the plane of the contour as 'XY', 'XZ', or 'YZ'); @POSITION (defining the position within the plane at which a contour is required); @TOP (defining the top of a seam); and @BOTTOM (defining the bottom of a seam). The choices are:-

  1. For conventional contours, choose @PLANE = 'XY', 'XZ' or 'YZ', and then the position in this plane. For the XY plane, @POSITION is the required elevation (ZC value). For the XZ plane, @POSITION is the required Y co-ordinate (YC value). For the YZ plane, @POSITION is the required X co-ordinate (XC value). Neither @TOP nor @BOTTOM are set. The field *FIELD defines the field whose values will be contoured at the given position.

  2. For top of seam contours, @PLANE = 'XY' (default). @TOP is set to the value of field *FIELD defining the required seam. Neither @BOTTOM nor @POSITION are set.

  3. For bottom of seam contours, @PLANE = 'XY' (default). @BOTTOM is set to the value of field *FIELD defining the required seam. Neither @TOP nor @POSITION are set.

  4. For seam isopachs, @PLANE = 'XY' (default). @TOP and @BOTTOM are set to the value of field *FIELD defining the required seam. @POSITION is not set.

Examples are:-

@POSITION=-45,*FIELD(Fe)

The contour will pick all those cells or sub-cells which cross the xy plane at -45, and will contour Fe.

@TOP=2,*FIELD(SEAMID)

The contour will be generated from the top of the seam identified by field SEAMID=2.

@BOTTOM=2,*FIELD(SEAMID)

The contour will be generated from the base of the seam identified by field SEAMID=2.

@TOP=2,@BOTTOM=2,*FIELD(SEAMID)

An isopach of seam SEAMID=2.

The smoothness of the contour may be controlled by parameter @GRIDINT. This defines the grid interval at which points will be sampled or generated for contour threading. It should be set to the grid size (in user data units) or less, preferably a sub-multiple of the grid size. You are recommended to start with @GRIDINT equal to half of the grid spacing (the smaller of X or Y, if different). Note, however, that the appearance of the contours will once again get worse if the interval is too small, because of the linear interpolation used between points.


Files, Fields and Parameters

Input Files

Name

Description

I/O Status

Required

Type

IN

Input model file. Must contain fields XC, YC, ZC, XINC, YINC, ZINC, XMORIG, YMORIG, ZMORIG, NX, NY, NZ, IJK + FIELD field.

Input

Yes

Block Model

PROTO

Plot prototype file. Must contain the fields X, Y, S1, S2 and CODE (numeric, explicit) and XMIN, XMAX, YMIN, YMAX, XSCALE, YSCALE (numeric, implicit). If these last 6 values set in PROTO , then corresponding parameters need not be set. If no plot prototype file, then XMIN, XMAX, YMIN, YMAX taken from the model file on IN.

Input

No

Plot Prototype

Output Files

Name

I/O Status

Required

Type

Description

PLOT

Output

Yes

Plot

Output plot file.

Fields

Name

Description

Source

Required

Type

Default

FIELD

Field to be contoured.

IN

Yes

Numeric

Undefined

Parameters

Name

Description

Required

Default

Range

Values

VMIN

Minimum contour value.

Yes

Undefined

Undefined

Undefined

VMAX

Maximum contour value.

Yes

Undefined

Undefined

Undefined

CINT

Contour interval.

Yes

Undefined

Undefined

Undefined

GRIDINT

Grid interval for contouring.

Yes

Undefined

Undefined

Undefined

PLANE

Plane, 'XY', 'XZ' or 'YZ' through the model. Default is the XY plane.

No

'XY'

Undefined

'XY','XZ','YZ'

POSITION

Position of the plane. For example if the XY plane is used a Z position is needed. Only required if neither TOP nor BOTTOM are specified.

No

Undefined

Undefined

Undefined

TOP

Value of FIELD for which top of seam contour required. Only required if neither POSITION nor BOTTOM appear.

No

Undefined

Undefined

Undefined

BOTTOM

Value of FIELD for which base of seam contour required. Only required if neither POSITION nor TOP appear. Both TOP and BOTTOM set for an isopach.

No

Undefined

Undefined

Undefined

HILIGHT

Highlight every Nth contour with different colour.

No

Undefined

Undefined

Undefined

HI

Colour for highlighting.

No

Undefined

1,64

Undefined

CHARSIZE

Character size in millimetres (3).

No

3

Undefined

Undefined

ASPRATIO

Aspect ratio, width / ht. for chars (0.9).

No

0.9

Undefined

Undefined

 

Colour [as 'pen' number] for plot (1).

No

1

Undefined

Undefined

APPEND

Plot append flag. If set to 1 then the new plot will be appended to the PLOT file, if it exists and is a valid plot file (0).

No

0

0,1

0,1

XMIN

Minimum value of X for plot. None of XMIN, XMAX, YMIN, YMAX, XSCALE, YSCALE need be set if this information is already in the prototype.

No

Undefined

Undefined

Undefined

XMAX

Maximum value of X for plot.

No

Undefined

Undefined

Undefined

YMIN

Minimum value of Y for plot.

No

Undefined

Undefined

Undefined

YMAX

Maximum value of Y for plot.

No

Undefined

Undefined

Undefined

XSCALE

X scale in user data units per millimetre.

No

Undefined

Undefined

Undefined

YSCALE

Y scale in user data units per millimetre.

No

Undefined

Undefined

Undefined


Notes

Progress messages are displayed as the model is read and as each contour is generated.


Example

!CONTOU

&IN(FEMODEL), &PLOT(CONTPLOT), *FIELD(Fe), @POSITION=-45, @VMIN= 30, @VMAX=80, @CINT=5, @GRIDINT=10, @HILIGHT=5, @HI= 4


Error and Warning Message

Message

Description

Solution

>>> CANNOT APPEND TO NON-EXISTENT OUTPUT FILE.
>>> A NEW OUTPUT FILE WILL BE CREATED.

The @APPEND parameter has been set to 1, but the specified plot file does not exist. A new file will be created to contain the new plot being produced.

 

 

 

 

 

>>> ERROR - CANNOT APPEND TO PLOT FILE AS IT DOES
>>> NOT CONTAIN ALL THE REQUIRED FIELDS.
>>> THE PLOT FILE WILL BE OVERWRITTEN.

The @APPEND parameter has been set to 1, the specified plot file exists but is invalid. The existing plot file will be overwritten by the new plot being produced.